SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF APRIL 25 FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001578

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2015
TAGS: PREL KPAL IZ LE ZI SU SP EUN CGEN
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF APRIL 25 FOREIGN
AFFAIRS MEETING (GAERC)

REF: STATE 72185

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff discussed Iraq, the Middle East
Peace Process, Lebanon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and the Great Lakes
with Carlos Fernandez-Arias, MFA EU Policy Coordinator (and
Special Assistant to MFA Political Director Dezcallar) on
April 21. Fernandez-Arias did not expect detailed discussion
on Iraq and Lebanon at the April 25 GAERC meeting. Spain
believes that the Middle East Peace Process should be
re-energized and currently has concerns at the pace of
movement by both the Israelis and Palestinians.
Fernandez-Arias said that the U.S. abstention on the UNSC
resolution referring Sudanese war crimes suspects to the
International Criminal Court was helpful. Spain shares
doubts of U.S. and other EU nations concerning Zimbabwe's
commitment to free and fair elections, but will likely seek
compromise solutions to allow lower and mid-level Zimbabwean
officials to participate at future EU - African Union
summits. Development and security initiatives focused on the
Great Lakes region remain a priority for Spain. END SUMMARY.

//IRAQ//


2. (C) Fernandez-Arias welcomed further details on the
proposed June U.S.-EU conference on Iraq. He did not
anticipate any new discussions on Iraq on April 25.

//THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS//


3. (C) Spain believes that the Middle East Peace Process
must be re-energized and supports Gaza disengagement efforts.
The GOS is a little less optimistic about the process than
in previous months, as they have concerns that both the
Israelis and the Palestinians have not advanced enough on
coordination efforts.

//LEBANON//


4. (C) The GOS was a firm supporter in the Security Council
of UNSCR 1559 and all of its provisions, including the
withdrawal of Syrian military and intelligence forces,
stopping Iran's military supply of Hizballah through Syria,
and strict respect for the sovereignty and political
independence of Lebanon. In principle, Spain agrees with all
of our points, although Fernandez-Arias questioned our view
on the unacceptability of possible delays of Lebanese
elections beyond May. He said the GOS is pessimistic that
Syria will withdraw all of its forces in a timely manner.
Fernandez-Arias did not anticipate much discussion of Lebanon
at the April 25 meeting.

//SUDAN//


5. (C) Fernandez-Arias told Poloff that the U.S. abstention
on a UNSC resolution referring war crime suspects to the
International Criminal Court will help to move things forward
in Sudan. The EU is committed to working with the U.S. to
resolve problems in the Sudan. The EU would like to see a
strong role for the African Union in helping to improve the
security situation on the ground.

//ZIMBABWE//


6. (C) Spain shares doubts of the U.S. and other EU nations
about Zimbabwe's commitment to free and fair elections.
Fernandez-Arias noted that this would be a new issue at the
GAERC meetings and that many governments were currently
evaluating their positions on Zimbabwe. He said that
although the election was heavily tilted towards Mugabe's
ZANU-PF party, one "positive" result from the election was
that there were no reports of politically motivated violence.
When Poloff expressed surprise at his discussing "positive"
results from rigged elections, Fernandez-Arias assured Poloff
that Spain supported EU efforts to bring about fair elections
in Zimbabwe, but he also expressed concerns over future
dialogue between the European Union and the African Union.
During future summits between the EU and the AU, Spain would
be interested in reaching a compromise solution where lower
to mid-level Zimbabwean delegates could be present at the
meetings.

//GREAT LAKES//


7. (C) African issues remain a top priority of EU states at
the GAERC. According to Fernandez-Arias, the EU agrees with
U.S. goals in the Great Lakes region, and the EU is currently
pursuing development and security initiatives in the region.
The EU will continue to look for political and military
reform, and the EU looks forward to working with the U.S. on
Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reintegration and
Resettlement (DDRRR).
//OTHER ISSUES//


8. (C) Fernandez-Arias said that preparations for the May
10 EU-Russia summit in Moscow would be discussed at the
GAERC. He said that technical and administrative issues
related to Serbian cooperation with the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia would also be
discussed.


MANZANARES